Tom Friedman says Palestinian economic growth in the West Bank is changing everything. Pres. Obama and the Saudi King discuss the peace process. A Hamas member who spied for Israel begs not to be deported from the United States. Under much criticism, Israel may extend the remit of the Gaza flotilla investigation. Pres. Abbas urges stronger efforts on peace. Disabled activists fight for rights in Gaza. A new poll shows Palestinians and Israelis are hopeful but cautious about peace. Projectiles fired from Gaza strike southern Israel. Bradley Burston says Israel has been taken over by tea party-like fanatics. Settlers announce an “aggressive campaign” against PM Netanyahu. The Hamas-Fatah divide is proving unbridgeable. A proposed Israeli law would outlaw all forms of boycott, including against settlement goods. DM Barak is acting more as Israel's Foreign Minister than FM Lieberman. PM Hariri calls for more rights for Palestinians in Lebanon, and Rami Khouri says the situation is shameful. Yossi Alpher says the Gaza blockade has been counterproductive.

A Special Place in Hell / Tea Party Jews: Betraying U.S. and Israel at the same time
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Bradley Burston - (Blog) June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

Ever wonder what a future America might look like if the Tea Party took over? Try today's Israel. That distinctive brew of left-baiting, Obama-hating, poorly veiled racism, clergy-driven jingoism, clergy-fanned derision of the Supreme Court, the Luddite insertion of anti-government bile where an ideology should go, a majority which feels victimized and discriminated against and threatened by minorities of indeterminate legal status – it's all here. It just speaks Hebrew.

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Qassam rocket fired from Gaza destroys Negev packing plant
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Yanir Yagna - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

A Qassam rocked fired from the Gaza Strip hit the western Negev before dawn Wednesday, seriously damaging a packing plant and other structures in the Sdot Negev Regional Council, but causing no casualties. "Tonight we took the hit, but the [rocket] fire is constant," the plant's manager said. "On the whole, we are a peaceful and quiet community," he continued. "People got up and went to work and are trying to continue the day's routines."

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Settlers launch 'aggressive' campaign against Netanyahu
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Shmulik Grossman - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

Settlement leaders on Tuesday launched an "aggressive and direct" campaign on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, lest he "again betrays his voters," they said. They noted that the struggle till now has been directed at Defense Minister Ehud Barak and they have avoided attacking Netanyahu directly. "If Netanyahu returns from the US with another commitment to a (construction) freeze, he will encounter an unprecedented response of settlers who will hound him no matter where he goes," the campaign organizers promised.

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Hamas-Fatah gap unbridgeable
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
by Khaled Abu Toameh - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

A Palestinian committee that was recently formed to find ways to end the crisis between Hamas and Fatah has disbanded after concluding that the gap between the rival parties is unbridgeable. The panel, which was headed by independent businessman Munib al-Masri, was formed immediately after the flotilla aid ship incident in late May. Members of the committee were scheduled to visit the Gaza Strip for talks with Hamas leaders about the crisis. However, the visit was canceled after Hamas announced that it would not receive the delegation.

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Israelis, Palestinians hopeful, cautious about peace prospects: poll
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

A just-released local poll showed that Israelis and Palestinians appear ready and increasingly willing to compromise for a peaceful resolution of their conflict. Both sides, however, remain pessimistic about prospects for peace, according to the results of the joint survey, a statement sent to Xinhua said. The research was carried out by the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah.

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Israel's anti-boycott belligerence
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Miri Weingarten - (Opinion) June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

A new "anti-boycott bill", the third in a series of proposed laws that aim to curtail the ability of civil society to criticise Israeli government policy, will punish Israelis or foreign nationals who initiate or promote a boycott of Israel. The bill not only prohibits boycotts of legal Israeli institutions, but also of settlement activities and products. It seeks to impose fines on Israelis who "promote boycotts" and transfer the fines to boycotted organisations.

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Israel’s Stealth F.M.: Barak, Not Lieberman, Tasked With Weighty Issues
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Nathan Guttman - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

On June 8, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman made a trip to the United States. He met leaders of the Jewish community, attended the opening ceremony of a community center in New York, briefed Israeli diplomats and returned to Jerusalem without making a stop in Washington. During his two-day trip, Lieberman did not meet any American administration officials.

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Gaza young man uses his voice to defy physical disabilities
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Saud Abu Ramadan, Ahmed Daloul - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

Leaning on crutches, the physically disabled Osama Abu Safar, resident of Gaza City, went everyday to work at Fursan al-Iradah (Knights of Will) radio station. He defied the life's intricacies, mainly the lack of living means, care and accommodate for Gaza disabled people. Abu Safar, 27, born in Libya with disability in both legs, never thought about surrendering to the reality of his physical disability. He insisted with determination and challenged to achieve a proper position for himself in the society of the Gaza Strip.

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Hariri calls for national unity on granting rights to Palestinians
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Daily Star
by Simona Sikimic - June 30, 2010 - 12:00am

“There are humanitarian, social and ethical duties, and the Lebanese state should assume the responsibility of providing them to the Palestinian brothers,” Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Tuesday. “Lebanon will not dodge these duties, which must be crystal-clear, and not be subject to any misinterpretation.” Calling for national unity on the issue, the Prime Minister went on to express his commitment to obtaining a cross-party agreement in exchange for security cooperation from various Palestinian factions, responsible for upholding law and order in the country’s 12 refugee camps.

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